Carton sealing machine



April 19, 9D H. c. sl-:GERSTROM ETAL 2,932,927

CARTON SEALING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 1S, 1958 A TTOFNEY.

H. c. sr-:GERSTROM ETAL 2,932,927

April 19, 1960 CARTON SEALING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1958 WW mlIm-.l All l INVENTOR.

H'erf 119 C'. Se ersrom and Z/JaZ-Ee? J Qnd'recds ATTORNEY WA @www JAI 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 CARTON SEALING MACHINE H. C. SEGERSTROM ETAL April 19, 1960 Filed July 18, 1958 Q am m@ NW A TTOFNEY.

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April 19, 1950 H. c. sEGr-:RSTROM ETAL 2,932,927

CARTON SEALING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18, 1958 R. s www m ma@ p. Wi w WJ er A s@ cz@ Ww e .Quad wm. b

April 19, 1950 H. c. sEGx-:RsTRoM ETAL 2,932,927

CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BYW ,3 -wm- AT T OFNEY.

April 19, 1960 H, C, SEGERSTROM ETAL 2,932,927

CARTON SELING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 rf 720M YSTL HW Mw ATozeNEx nited tate 29932327 CARTON SEALING MACHINE Application July 18, 195e?, Serial No. 7493531 9 Claims. (Ci. 53m-6d) This invention relates to a carton closing machine and method and more particularly to a machine and method for exhausting the air from and closing and sealing under compression a corrugated carton which has first been lled with paper sheets.

l One of the problems in eiiiciently packaging paper sheets which are stacked in reams or other units is to be able to extract the residual air which remains between the sheets of the stacked paper and which not only takes up valuable space but tends undesirably to increase the moisture content of the paper and also tends to cause tie individual sheets of paper to be displaced from the block ,in which it is stacked, thereby damaging its edges. Stated otherwise, the problem is to compact and condense the package.

nAnother problem is the quick and ei'licient formation or a container around the compacted contents, which is heavy and strong enough to retain the paper in comthe air voided from between the sheets and to protect in transit and'storage.

It has been found that a container in the form of a rectangular box or carton formed of heavy corrugated paper and having an outside cover which telescopes over the box body provides the strongest and cheapest protection for shipment and storage of paper in sheet form.

if the body and cover of such a container are irst completely formed, there arises the problem of telescopically fitting the cover over the box body, compressing the contents of the box and providing a seal between the box body and the cover which is adequate to retain the parts together in compressed condition and to keep out moisture and dirt. if the seal is provided in the form of an adhesive between the surfaces of the cover and the body or in the form complications arise.

To avoid the above difficulties and to increase eiiicieney, it isdesirable to combine in a single operation the operations of completing the formation of the box cover and placing its surfaces in contact with the box body with the operations of compressing the package, voiding the air from its contents and sealing the box.

It is further desirable to provide such a single operaof an adhesive tape, additional tion which can be repeated rapidly and continuously and to provide mechanism for performing the operation.

it is also desirable to provide a method and apparatus for operation in an automatic or semi-automatic cycle and in which a dirt and moisture prooi bond is formed directly between the box cover and box body while the parts are held under compression and without the use ot tape.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simplied method and apparatus of greatly increased speed,V efcieney and economy for substantially simultaneously compressing the lcontents of a paperboard or corrugated carton type container having `acover which tits telescopically over the body portion,

completing formation of the cover and the assembly of 2.93252? Patented Apr. 19, 15.96)

the container and forming an adhesive seal between the parts of the container while the component parts are held together under compression.

lt is a further object to provide such a method and apparatus in which the llled and partially assembled containers are rapidly successively fed to an operative position and the completed containers are ejected.

It is a further object to provide feed operations and ejection and discharge operations which 'are synchronized with the forming and sealing opera-tion so that the cooperating parts of the mechanism may operate in semiautomatic or automatic cycle without damage to the parts.

Further objects and features of the invention will be understood from the description thereof and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of forming and sealing apparatus and associated feed and discharge conveyor mechanism embodied according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a filled box body and a partially formed cover blank shown above it and in the form in which the cover is superposed over the body and fed to the machine of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the carton after it has been assembled and sealed by the method and machine of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation, partly in section, showing an uncompleted box being delivered to the operative position on the table.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 showing the uncompleted box in operative position.

Fig. 6 is similar to Figs. 4 and 5, showing the forming and sealing operation of the machine.

Fig. 7 is similar to Figs. 4 6, showing the completed box being ejected from the operative position and onto the discharge conveyor.

i-Tig. 8 is an enlarged partial side elevation showing details.

Fig. 9 is a top plan of mechanism shown in Pig. 8.

`Fig. i0 is a partial section taken on 1li-iii of Fig. 8.

Fig. ll is a section taken on lll- 1l of Fig. l with the box omitted. Y.

Fig. l2 is a section taken on l2--l2 of Fig. l1.

Fig. 13 is a bottom perspective of the completed box showing the darkened spot on the bottom of the box body which operates the box registration mechanism.

Fig. i4 is a diagrammatic view of the vacuum control circuit.

Fig. l5 is a diagrammatic view of trol circuit.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the iced conveyor and pusher control circuit.

the diaphragm con- Geneml arrangement in the drawings, particulariy Fig. l, are shown a machine l generally comprising carton forming, compressing and sealing mechanism 2, carton feed mechanism 3 and carton discharge mechanism d. Y

Uncompleted cartons or boxes 5, details of which are shown in Fig. 2, are successively moved from left to right by the feed mechanism 3 including an associated pusher bar 7 to an operative position on a table 6 which is part of the mechanism 2, where they are completed. The completed cartons, shown in Fig. 3, are moved by the pusher bar 7 further to the right and onto the discharge mechanism d. These successive steps are shown in Figs. l, 4 and 7; Y

As seen in Fig. 2, the carton 5 has a body portion l@ and a cover portion 11. Before assembly and sealing on the machine 1, the body portion itt is iilled with cut paper sheets which lie horizontally in the carton body il? forming a stack or ream 12,` the top of which is even with or is applied to the inside or lower surfaces of the ilaps 15. l

The adhesive may alternatively be applied to the outside surface of the side walls 13 of the body portion 1t). Then the cover portion 11 inthe fo'rrny shown in Fig. 2 is superposed over the-body portion 10 so that the partially assembled cartons S have the appearance as shown in Figs.

1, 4 and 5. Y A

Vacuum sealing mechanism The mechanism 2 includes a substantially horizontally arranged elastic diaphragm 20 supported by a peripheral horizontal frame 21 having a shape which is rectangular thereby corresponding with the shape of the table 6. As seen in Figs. 1, 6, 11 and 12, the frame 21 is secured by diagonals 2d and a plate 25 to the piston 26 of a cylinder 27. The piston and cylinder 26 and 27 comprise a fluid operated power mechanism 29 which is preferably operated by compressed air. it is supported on framework 3ft for raising and lowering the frame 21 to apply the diaphragm 20 to the table 6 with a substantially airtight joint 32 as seen in Figs. 6 and 12 between their respective peripheral edges.

Suction means are provided to void air from between the diaphragm 2b and the table 6, when the diaphragm 20 is lowered onto the table 6, to collapse the diaphragm 20 and to compress it closely around the carbon cover 11 and carton body 16, as seen in Figs. 6 and 12.

The suction means include an enclosed chamber 35 under the table 6,` a pattern of perforations in the form of holes 36 drilled through the table 6 and leading from its upper surface into the chamber 35, a suction conduit 38 connected to the chamber 35, a vacuum reservoir tank 39 and a vacuum pump 42.

The vacuum reservoir tank 39 is connected in series in the conduit 3S between the chamber 35 and the vacuum pumpv 42. Connected in parallel in a large diameter branch 38u and a small diameter branch '38h of the conduit 38 respectively are a solenoid operated rapid flow shut-off valve 40 and a solenoid operated slow fiow shut-off valve 41.' In seriesbetween the chamber 35 and the valves 4b and 41 are a normally closed vacuum operated switch 44 and a vacuum relief valve 45.

Feed and pusher mechanism The feed mechanism 3, as best seen in Figs. 1, 8 and 9, includes a feed roller table 50 level with and approaching one end of the vacuum table 6 and it includes idler rollers 52 and driven rollers 54. The driven rollers 5ft are placed at intervals short enough so that at least o'ne will underlie the smallest carton being moved toward the vacuum sealing mechanism 2 and they are driven conveniently by a belt 55 passing over the pulley 56 of a feed drive motor 57, Vseen also in Fig. 16.

The pusher bar 7 rests in its inactive position between the last driven roller 54 to the right in the feed mechanism 3 and the idler rollers 52 adjacent the left-hand end of the table 6, with its upper surface even with or belo'w the upper surface of the rollers 52 and 54. As best seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the pusher bar 7 is supported between the right hand ends of a pair of arms 60 and 61, the lefthand ends 62 and63 of which are secured by bolts 65 to sprocket chains 70 and 71.

The sprocket chains 74) and 71are carried by a pair of shaft-connected sprockets 75 and 76 at their right hand ends and another pair of shaft-connected sprockets 77 The upper runs of the sprocket chain 70 and 71 and also the pusher bar supporting arms and 62, when the latter are in rest position, are further supported by slides 38 having outer vertical guide Walls 89, seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and the lower runs of the chains 70 and 71 are supported between their sprockets by similar slides 9).

When the pusher bar drive moto'r 8S is energized to move the sprocket chains 70 and 71 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, the pusher bar 7 is moved to the right. Due to the exibility of the sprocket chains 70 and 71, to which they are attached at their left hand ends 67;. and 63, the right hand ends of the pusher bar support arms 69 and 61 may rise within limits, allowing the pusher bar 7 to ride up slo'ping portions 93 at the left hand ends of elongated horizontal cams 94 which extend from adjacent the rest position of the pusher bar 7, as seen in Fig. 8, to the right to a point adjacent the approachend of the vacuum table 6.

T he pusher bar, in addition to its rest position shown in Fig. 8, has two additional operative positions to' which it moves. The first, shown in Fig. 5, is the extent ofits movement to the right when it places the box y5 in its operative position on the vacuum table 6 and from which it is withdrawn to the left prior to operation of the diaphragm 2b. The second, shown in Fig. 7 further to the right, is the position to which it moves, after operation and withdrawal ofthe diaphragm 20, in ejecting the completed box 5c from the table 6 and onto the discharge conveyor 4.

Reversal of the pusher bar drive motor 85 moves the sprocket chains 7l) and 71 in counterclockwise direction,

as seen yin Fig. 8, thereby moving their upper runs andV the pusher bar 7 rapidly to the left to the rest position of Fig. 8. The motor 85, being dual speed, is arranged to reverse at a higher rate for retracting the pusher bar 7.

The tendency of the pusher bar 7 to overrun to the left due to the inertia of its actauting mechanism at the higher retraction speed is inhibited by a snub bar 96 pivoted at 97. The lower ends of the snub bar 96 are secured to springs 93 and their upper ends have concave surfaces 99 which engage and snub the pusher bar 7 by action of the springs 98 as the bar 7 cornes to rest position to the left.

rEhe discharge mechanism 4 comprises a horizontal roller table 195 having idler rolls 106 and driven rolls 197. The driven rolls 107 are spaced at the `same intervals as are the driven rolls 54 of the feed table 50 and are actuated by a belt 110 appropriately tensioned and driven by the pulley 111 of a discharge drive motor 112. The discharge drive motoi` may operate continuously l while the machine is in operation.

and 78 at their left hand ends and are thereby both driven Control mechanism and operation The machine operatesV in a repeating cycle upon a succession of boxes 5 which move from left to right as viewed in Fig. l. At the beginning of the cycle, the diaphragm frame 21 has been upwardly retracted by the Huid pressure motor 29, as seen in Fig. l, and the frame 21 has engaged and closed a normally open switch 115, as also seen in Fig. 16. The pusher bar 7 in the retracted position of Fig. 8 has engaged and closed a normally open switch 116, thereby completing a circuit from the lines 119 and 120 of av power supply through the feed conveyor motor 57, turning the driven rolls 5e of the feed table Sil and transferring a prepared box 5 from left to right to the position shown in Fig. 4, the inertia of the box 5 carrying it to the right of the pusher bar 7.

Now the operator closes and holds a manual pusher bar forward switch 121, Fig. 16, which closes a circuit from the power lines 119, 12d through the pusher operating motor d5 lby way of a normally closed light responsive switch 122, Figs. 12 and 16, a normally closed cam operated switch 124, Figs. 8 and 16, and switch 126.

The drive motor moves the pusher bar 7 to the `:rigbtzandup onto 'the Vcami94 andzthen Vonto .the "table 6,

has been .placed on the bottom 17 of the box body portion 10, has registered over awindow 13), Fig. '12, in .an aperture 131 in `thetable 6,'actuatinga light responsive unit 132, which may be anysuitable control unit such as a selenium or photoelectric cell, which thereby opens the switch 122 and stops the pusher drive motor 85. The stopping of the pusher bar motor 85 by the opening or the switch 1,22 is the signal for the operator to open the manual switch 121.

As seen in Fig. l1, the window 132 is positioned somewhat to the left or inadvance of the operative' position of the center 'of the box 5, and the inertial over-travel of the pusher bar 7 vand the box 5 allows the latter to move to a central operative position on the table 6 so that the dark spot 14 has gone past the window 132, allowing the switch 122 to reclose.

With the box in operative position, the operator must now retract the pusher 'bar 7 to the left out of the way of the frame 21 by actuating the manual reverse switch 135, Fig. 16. In moving to the right to place the box in operative position, the pusher bar 7 engaged and left closed a switch 136, Figs. 8 and 16. The reversing circuit for the motor 35 is now closed from the power lines 11% and 120 through the motor 85 by way of the switches 135, '1.36 and 115. As the -pusher bar 7 returns to the left, it opens the switch 136, shutting oil the motor 8S and the bar `7 coasts to its rest position agains the snub bar 96, Fig. 8.

New the operator closes the `manual dov/n switch 14d, Fig. l5, to move the diaphragm frame 21 down to apply the diaphragm 2i) to the table o. The pusher bar 7 in closed osition holds closed a saietv switch 141, Figs. 9 and l5, and `when there is no box 5 in the position of Fig. 4 to interfere with the descent of the diaphragm frame 21, the safety switch 144, Figs. 8, 9 and l5, remains closed. A circuit is thereby completed from the power lines 119 land 120 through a solenoid 1.5i) moving the piston 151 of an air valve 152 to the left. This admits air from a compressed air line 153 through the valve 152 anda line 154 to the top of the cylinder Z7, causing the piston 26 and diaphragm frame E1 to descend.

The diaphragm frame 21 upon reaching the table 6 moves rod 21 and arm of a switch 155, Figs. ll and ld, downwardly breaking its connection with the Contact 156 and establishing its connection with the contact 157. A circuit is established from the power lines 11% and 124) through the switch 155 and the normally closed switch 44 to energize a solenoid 16d which opens the rapid .flow valve 4i), thereby establishing suction between the diaphragm 26 and the table o through the vacuum conduit 33 by operation of the 'vacuum reservoir 39 and vacuum pump 42. The valve t1 is also opened by breaking of the connection between the switch 155 and the contact 156 because its solenoid 161 is arranged to open the valve dit when tie-energized.

The atmospheric pressure on the outside of the diaphragm 2t? presses evenly downwardly over the entire area of the top of the box cover 11 and against the stacked paper sheets or other contents of the box body 1i?, forcing air from between the paper sheets which is further sucked away by the vacuum suction system under the table 6. The pressure also forces the diaphragm 2.@ downwardly and inwardly against the iiaps 15S the box top 11, compressing them against the sides 13 of the box body 1t) and holding the parts in compressed condition for a suiiicient period of time to allow the adhesive 18 to set between the surfaces .of the body 1G and 11. The contents of the box 5 are thereby compacted and held in compressed condition While the seal is being formed. The result is that 'a compressedly sealed joint is formed between the portions of the carton.

`When a `sufficient; degree of vacuum is attained 'by full capacity suction through the conduit 3S, both valves 40 and 41 being open, the high `capacity valve 10 is closed by the opening of the diaphragm-operated switch 44, Fig. 14, which de-energizes the solenoid 69. The switch 44 is actuated by a suction-responsive diaphragm 46 which responds to a predetermined vacuum in the conduit 38. Thereafter the vacuum is maintained by suction through the low-capacity branch conduit 3S!) and valve 41 which remains open.

At the end of a period of time which is sucient to allow the adhesive 18 to set and form a seal between the box body 10 and cover 11, the operator closes a manual up switch 165 which closes a circuit from the pover lines 119 and 120 through a solenoid 170, Fig. 15, shifting the piston 151 of the air valve 152 to the right, admitting compressed air from the line 153 through the valve 152 and a line 158 to the bottom. of the air cylinder 27 to raise the diaphragm frame 21 and to withdraw the diaphragm Ztl upwardly from the now completed box 5c and the table 6.

'The upward movement of the frame 21 takes place against the vacuum under the diaphragm 20, but suction is broken by the peeling action of the frame Z1 which first raises the peripheral edges of the diaphragm 26. The switch 44 recloses. As the frame 21 is raised away from rod 21 of switch 155, Fig. 14, the latter breaks connec- Y tion from the circuit contact 157 and makes connection with the circuit Contact 156. This re-energizes the solenoid 161 and thereby closes the valve 41 to shut olf suction in the conduit 38 from the table 6. The diaphragm frame 21 now returns to the upward position of Fig. l,

`reclosing the switch 115.

The operator closes the pusher bar forward switch 120, Fig. 16, again moving the pusher har 7 to the right to eject the completed box 5c from the table 6 and onto the discharge `conveyor 4, as seen in Pig. 7. When the pusher bar 7 reaches the position. of Fig. :7, acam 91, Fig. 8, on the lower run of the sprocket chain 7d having moved to its extreme position to the left, engages and opens the switch 124. As seen in Fig. 16, this breaks the forward operating circuit and stops the pusher bar motor 35 and the pusher bar 7.

The switch 136 having been left closed as the pusher bar 7 moved to the right to eject the box 5c, the operator now closes the pusher bar reverse -switch 135 which reverses the motor and retracts the pusher bar '7 to the left to its rest position of Fig. 8.

The switch 116 is now closed, Fig. 16, and the feed conveyor motor 57 is energized to move a succeeding box 5 to the position of Fig. 4, and the cycle is repeated.

The switch 126 has an actuator 127 by which it is opened to prevent; initial operation of the pusher bar 7 when a box 5 is not conveyed well ahead and clear of the pusher bar 7 and remains instead in contact with the actuator 127. The box is then advanced manually to clear the mechanism.

The safety switch 144 has a push rod 5' which opens it when impinged upon by a box which remains in the way of the diaphragm frame 21 as seen in Figs. S and 9.

When the material of the diaphragm 20 is under compression around the box S, it forms the corner gussets 23 seen in Fig. l2.

We claim:

1. A machine for providing a compressedly sealed joint between two portions of a carton in which one portieri has aps adapted to be bent against and adhesively pressure joined to corresponding surfaces of the other portion, comprising in combination, a table, a flexible diaphragm, means to apply the diaphragm to the table with said one carton portion superposed over said other carton portion on the table under said diaphragm, means to void air from between the diaphragm and table, the diaphragm being thereby compressed closely around said carton portions and operating to compress said flaps against said corresponding surfaces of said other portion, and means to move successive superposed carton portions onto and then away from said table while said diaphragm is separated therefrom.

2. In the combination as Set forth in claim 1, said cable being horizontal, said means to apply the diaphragm including a peripheral frame supporting the edges of the diaphragm and abutting the peripheral surface of the table when the diaphragm is applied, and power lifting mechanism for lowering and raising saidv frame to and from said table.

3. In the combination as set forth in claim l, said means to void air from between the diaphragm and table ,including suction means having a suction conduit connected to the table surface, a valve in said conduit, and

means operating said valve in response to application of the diaphragm to the table.

4. yIn the combination as set forth in claim 1, said means to move successive carton portions including a pusher bar operable before and after operation of said diaphragm respectively to move successive carton portions from an approach point to an operating point on the table and then from said operating point to a discharge point.

5. A machine for providing a compressedly sealed joint between the cover and body portions of a carton in which the cover portion has aps adapted to be bent against and adhesively pressure joined to the sides of the body portion, comprising, in combination, a horizontal table, a flexible diaphragm, a peripheral horizontalvframe supporting the edges of the diaphragm, power mechanism to raise and lower the frame to apply the diaphragm to the table, with a substantially air tight joint between them, suction means to void air from between the diaphragm and the table, control means to operate said suction means, said control means being operable in response to the operation of the power mechanism to apply the diaphragm to the table thereby causing the diaphragm to be compressed closely around said carton cover and body forcing out air from inside said body and compressing said flaps against said body sides, means including a pusher bar operable when said diaphragm is raised from the table to move successive superimposed carton cover and body portions to a predetermined point on the table, and after operation of the diaphragm, to 'a discharge point.

6. A machine for providing a compressedly sealed joint between two superposed portions of a carton, comprising, in combination, a support vfor a saidcarton, a flexible diaphragm, means to apply the diaphragm to the support, means to collapse the diaphgram over a said carton on the support to compress its parts together, means including a pusher element to feed a said carton to an operative position on the support, and means to prevent operation of the pusher element while the diaphragm is applied to the support.

7. In the combination as set forth in claim 6, means to prevent application of the diaphragm to the support while the pusher element is in operation.

8. A machine for providing a compressedly sealed joint between two superposed portions of a carton comprising, in combination, a support for a s'aid carton, a tiexible diaphragm, means to apply said diaphragm to the support and over a, said carton, uid pressure means to collapse the diaphragm over a said carton on the support to compress its parts together, means including a pusher element operable prior to application and collapse of said diaphragm to feed a said carton to an operative position on the support and after withdrawal of said diaphragm from said support to discharge said carton from said support, and means to prevent operation of the pusher element while the diaphragm is applied to the support. v

9. A machine for providing a compressedly sealed joint between two superposed portions of a carton comprising, in combination, a support for a said carton, a flexible diaphragm, means to apply said diaphragm to the support and over a said carton, fluid pressure means to collapse the diaphragm over a said carton on the support to compress its parts together, means including a pusher element operable prior to application and collapse of said diaphragm to feed a said carton to an operative position on the support and after withdrawal of said diaphragm from said support to discharge said carton from said support, and means to prevent application of the diaphragm to the support While the pusher element is Vin operation. 

